Fate of Wizardoms Boxed Set by Jeffrey L Kohanek

Author:Jeffrey L Kohanek [Kohanek, Jeffrey L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781949382174
Publisher: Fallbrandt Press
Published: 2020-04-06T22:00:00+00:00

17

Ambition

“What are you doing in my chamber?” a deep voice rumbled.

Rhoa spun around to face a stout man standing two strides away. He was a little shorter than Rawk, with a thicker build. His hair, beard, and garb were exactly how Rhoa had pictured dwarfs from the stories Salvon had told when she was a child.

“Uncle Algoron?” Rawk muttered, aghast.

Rhoa spun toward him, her eyes going wide. Uncle?

The other man replied, “Rawkobon? What are you doing here?”

“I…” Rawk looked down at the sapphire in his hand, his face twisting. “I cannot help myself. The stone calls to me.” He began to cry.

Algoron stepped closer and put a thick paw on Rawk’s shoulder. “You hear its song?”

Rawk nodded, wiping his eyes with his free hand.

Algoron sighed, reached out, and gently removed the gem from Rawk’s hand. “Come. Let us talk.”

The man crossed the chamber and passed into another, smaller chamber. In the room were a mattress, a table, and two benches. Like the other room, shelves had been carved into the walls. The shelves were filled with boxes, crates, and bundles.

Algoron sat at the table and set the massive sapphire before him. “Please. Sit.”

Rhoa passed Rawk and approached the man. “My name is Rhoa. I am Rawk’s friend.”

The man glanced at Rawk, his brow arched. “Interesting. I don’t recall you having any friends in Ghen Aeldor.”

“He has a number of friends now,” Salvon said as he sat across from Algoron. “My name is Salvon. I am a storyteller.” He smiled at Rawk. “And Rawk is my friend, as well.”

Rhoa sat beside Salvon. “You are a Maker.” It wasn’t a question.

He nodded. “I am.”

“Why are you here?”

Algoron looked at Rawk, who stared at the blue gem on the table. “I might ask the same of you.”

“I was exiled,” Rawk blurted.

Leaning back, Algoron stared at him with narrowed eyes. “The song… You hear it. You were caught with gems in your possession.”

Rawk turned away, his words coming out in a choked response. “I could not stop myself. The allure… It is too compelling.”

Algoron stood and put his hand on Rawk’s shoulder, his tone one of understanding. “They do not understand. They thought I was mad when I tried to explain. Centuries of teachings say it is wrong, that all gems must be given to Vandasal.” He turned toward the azure stone on the table. “The compulsion calls us. It demands we heed the call.”

Rawk did not reply, but he appeared less upset.

Even with the tunnel collapsed behind them, Rhoa felt the need to flee, to get as far from Marquithe as possible. “We need to leave, Rawk.”

His gaze met hers for a moment before he turned to Algoron. “Why are you down here beneath the Marquithe palace?”

“I found someone who appreciates my abilities.” Algoron picked up the gem, twisting it while staring into the facets. “My job is to locate extraordinary sapphires for Malvorian and shape the stones into perfect octahedrons.”

“Why?” Rhoa shook her head. “Don’t you see? You are feeding the man’s ambition.

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